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WeBoost RV-4G Cell Phone Booster Review for RV

WeBoost, formerly Wilson Electronics, recently released the RV-4G cell phone booster designed specifically for RV owners. I wanted to know if the RV-4G is the best booster for my RV and the RV community in general. So I decided to try it out alongside my weBoost Drive 4G-X signal booster. After comparing features, setup, and signal boost levels my conclusions were mixed.

The signal boost capabilities of the RV-4G booster are certainly on par with the WeBoost Drive 4G-X. Once I had the external antenna positioned towards the strongest cell tower, I was able to get a 5 dBm greater boost with the RV-4G compared to the Drive 4G-X.

RV-4G Booster Test

Baseline Signal (no boost)

Boosted Signal

Download Test

Upload Test

-111 dBm

-78 dBm

8.6 Mbps

2.5 Mbps

Drive 4G-X Booster Side-By-Side Comparison Test

Baseline Signal (no boost)

Boosted Signal

Download Test

Upload Test

-111 dBm

-83 dBm

7.6 Mbps

2.3 Mbps

There are four key considerations worth pointing out with the RV-4G.

The RV-4G can not be used while driving or during a quick stop. The signal level of the RV-4G exceeds the standard for use in a motor vehicle, so it can be used only when your RV is stationary. The Drive 4G-X booster signal level is within the allowed level for motor vehicles and can be used while driving or parked.

The RV-4G booster external antenna is directional and needs to be mounted (via suction cups) to the side of the RV facing towards the strongest signal. Finding the correct position/direction can involve a little trial and error which may frustrate many RVers looking for a quick boost. The Drive 4G-X uses an omni directional magnetic mount antenna that once positioned does not need to be adjusted and can remain in place while driving.

The RV-4G external antenna must be positioned at least 20 feet from the internal antenna making it a poor choice for owners of small RVs, campers and travel trailers.

Finally, with a 9 foot internal radius, the internal antenna in the RV-4G kit has double the range of the Drive 4G-X internal antenna.

weBoost RV-4G Mobile Signal Booster

The RV-4G 4G Signal Booster kit is best suited for stationary RVs and requires some setup and configuration before each use.

weBoost Drive 4G-X 4G Mobile Signal Booster

The Drive 4G-X comes with the booster (solid metal and well built), an external omnidirectional antenna, and internal antenna. It's ideal when you need to support multiple 4G devices simultaneously while on the go.

For RV use, the Drive 4G-X gets my vote because of its versatility and ease of use. My Drive 4G-X is a set-it-up and forget it solution which I prefer. I'm willing to sacrifice a little signal strength for convenience. When I need it, I simply turn it on and it works. I can also use the Drive 4G-X while driving, while the RV-4G can only be used while stationary.

My main complaints about the RV-4G have to do with the mounting and positioning of the external antenna. I found this process to be a bit cumbersome. We move around frequently which means we would have to setup and reposition the antenna each time.

I also found the suction cup mounting system to be inadequate. I had problems keeping it on the window and worried it would fall off and get damaged. To use this antenna I recommend getting the weBoost pole mount kit and mount it to the RV ladder where it can be easily redirected towards the strongest signal source.

In my opinion, the Drive 4G-X or even the weBoost 4G-S Cradle signal boosters are better suited for RV use. The RV-4G falls behind in my opinion due to its lack of versatility and repeated setup.

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